The birth of Manila Lodge started in the year 1900 during the American occupation of the Philippines. At that time most of the existing Masonic Lodges in the Philippines were under the jurisdiction of the Grande Oriente Español, with whom the Grand Lodges in the United States had no fraternal relations. Owing to their origin, the American brethren sought for the organization of a lodge under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of California. On may 22, 1901 a petition for Dispensation was signed by sixteen Freemasons and was sent to the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of California. On the 4th day of July 1901, the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of California , MW James A. Goshay, signed the Dispensation authorizing the Lodge to meet, initiate, pass, and raise all good men who might apply and found worthy, giving the act historical significance as well as unmeasurable encouragement for the American brethren in the Philippines. On October 10, 1901 the historic charter was granted and Manila Lodge No. 342 was born. On November 14, 1901 the lodge was constituted and held its first stated meeting. Of the sixteen charter members, only one was a Filipino, Bro. Manuel Camus y Roxas, who was a member of Zetland in the East Lodge No. 508 in England. The rest were all American Freemasons from different lodges in the United States.

Elected and installed as the first Worshipful Master of the Lodge was WB Harry Eugene Stafford who 11 years later was also elected and installed as the first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines. For the first eleven years, the lodge conducted its Masonic Labors under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of California, namely Manila Lodge No. 342, Cavite Lodge No. 350 and Corregidor Lodge No.388. In that same year the three lodges held a convention and established what is now known as the Grand Lodge of the Philippines of which WB Harry Eugene Stafford was elected as the first Grand Master. With the formation of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines, Manila Lodge No. 342 was renumbered to No. 1 from then of the lodge continued to take its active lead role in the growth and particular. The members of Manila Lodge No. 1 were largely responsible for the erection of the first Masonic temple in Manila, which was used as Grand Lodge Temple and the Scottish Rite Temple along Taft Avenue. During those years, the members of Manila Lodge No. 1 were mostly Americans and so were the officers. It was only on December 4, 1962 that the first Filipino Mater was elected and in January 1963 WB Romeo Malimban, then a practicing lawyer, was installed as the first Filipino Worshipful Master of Manila Lodge No. 1. As the ranks of the American brethren slowly diminished due to deaths and retirement back to the United States, more and more Filipinos became embers and officers of the lodge. The decline in membership of American Freemasons was felt not only by Manila Lodge No. 1 but more so by Mt. Lebanon Lodge No. 80. In 1976, a petition from Mt. Lebanon Lodge No. 80 was presented to Manila Lodge No. 1 for a merger. The petition was approved by the Lodge on February 1977 and since that time up to the present the lodge has been known as Manila-Mt. Lebanon Lodge No. 1.

Since the time of its organization, Manila Lodge No. 1 has always been known for its support to charity works. In 1947 for instance, the lodge donated P51,000.00 to the St. Lukes Hospital for the cancer control program of the hospital. When the American school was rehabilitated in 1948 the lodge donated a substantial amount. there was also financial support to the Children’s Garden Orphanage and to the handicapped children, Manila Lodge No. 1 has been so active in its charity works that the only possible comment which can be said then was “Manila Lodge No. 1 for over 60 years has continuously shown that through her charity program many individuals and worthy institutions, both Masonic and non-Masonic would not have survived without the help and generosity of this lodge.” Such was Manila Lodge No. 1. The charity works of the lodge have been carried on and to this date Manila-Mt. Lebanon Lodge No. 1 still undertakes and supports various charitable projects.

Bro. vicentico e. quirante, jr.
Worshipful Master

He governs over the lodge and preserves the lodge’s charter and ensures that the practices of the lodge are in full compliance with its by-laws as well as with the regulations of its grand lodge.

vw silverio f. montalbo, pddgm
Senior Warden

The Senior Warden is like a senior vice president. He assists the Worshipful Master in governing the lodge; Senior Warden governs if the Worshipful Master is absent from a lodge meeting.

Bro. Orlando S. Manalastas, Jr.
Junior Warden

The Junior Warden is akin to a junior vice president. He superintends the lodge during hours of refreshment or when a lodge meeting is at recess.